x Doritaenopsis plant named ‘Ladies Day’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Doritaenopsis  plant named ‘Ladies Day’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong leaves; strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; large reddish purple-colored flowers with light purple-colored centers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis).

Cultivar denomination: ‘LADIES DAY’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR AND APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application, Floricultura B.V. of Heemskerk, The Netherlands on Mar. 12, 2019, application number 2019/0645. Foreign priority is not claimed to this European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of x Doritaenopsis plant, botanically known as x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis), commonly referred to as Doritaenopsis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Ladies Day’.

The new Doritaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nantou, Taiwan and Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new fast-growing and freely flowering Doritaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and large flowers with unique and attractive patterns and coloration.

The new Doritaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination in June, 2011 in Nantou, Taiwan of x Doritaenopsis ‘Modern Valentine’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with x Doritaenopsis ‘Modern Rose’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Doritaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands in March, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Doritaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Assendelft, The Netherlands since March, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Doritaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Ladies Day’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Ladies Day’ as a new and distinct Doritaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Strong leaves.     -   4. Strong flowering stems.     -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per         plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.     -   6. Large reddish purple-colored flowers with light         purple-colored centers.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Modern Valentine’. Plants of the new Doritaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Modern Valentine’ in flower color as plants of the new Doritaenopsis have reddish purple-colored flowers with light purple-colored centers without distinct stripes or venation whereas plants of ‘Modern Valentine’ have white-colored flowers that are blushed with violet with dense and distinct stripes and venation.

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Modern Rose’. Plants of the new Doritaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Modern Rose’ in flower form as flower petals of plants of the new Doritaenopsis are free to touching whereas flower petals of plants of ‘Modern Rose’ are completely free. In addition, cirrose tips of the labella (also referred to as “whiskers”) of plants of the new Doritaenopsis are white in color whereas cirrose tips of the labella of plants of ‘Modern Rose’ are purple red in color.

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis can be compared to plants of x Doritaenopsis ‘Lady Fantasy’, disclosed in a Provisional U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 62/705,005 and in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 17/340,015, filed concurrently. Plants of the new Doritaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Lady Fantasy’ in growth habit as plants of the new Doritaenopsis are not as vigorous as plants of ‘Lady Fantasy’. In addition, plants of the new Doritaenopsis have smaller flowers than plants of ‘Lady Fantasy’.

Plants of the new Doritaenopsis can also be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Purple Dust’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,177. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Doritaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Purple Dust’ in flower color as plants of the new Doritaenopsis have reddish purple-colored flowers with light purple-colored centers whereas plants of ‘Purple Dust’ have purple/violet-colored flowers with a white-colored haze in the center. In addition, flowers of plants of the new Doritaenopsis are arranged on racemes whereas flowers of plants of ‘Purple Dust’ are arranged on panicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Doritaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Doritaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Ladies Day’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Ladies Day’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heemskerk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Doritaenopsis production. Plants were 18 months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the first twelve months of production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 27° C. During the final six months of production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. During the 18 months of production, light levels ranged from a minimum of 5,000 lux to a maximum of 10,000 lux. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis)     ‘Ladies Day’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis)             ‘Modern Valentine’, not patented.         -   Male parent.—x Doritaenopsis (Doritis x Phalaenopsis)             ‘Modern Rose’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About two weeks             at temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 20 to 25 weeks at temperatures about 28° C. to             30° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically grey to green in             color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low amount of branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright             plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant,             each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;             moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About             17.6 cm.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of             inflorescences.—About 49 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 36.1 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about             five leaves per plant.         -   Length.—About 21.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Aspect.—Outwardly arching.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate to obovate; moderately carinate.         -   Apex.—Unequal broadly acute.         -   Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: About 1.5 cm. Sheath width:             About 1.2 cm. Sheath color: Close to 146B; towards the             margins and base, close to between N186C and 200B.         -   Margin.—Entire; slightly revolute.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker             than between NN137B and 146A; margin edges, close to 200B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; towards the             margins, strongly tinged with close to between N186B and             200A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B;             venation, close to NN137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146B; towards the margins, slightly tinged             with close to between N186B and 200A; venation, close to             143A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers             arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two             inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about 13             flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching inflorescences             supported by upright peduncles; flowers with three petals,             two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a             labellum and three sepals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about six months             after planting; plants flower naturally during the winter             into the spring.         -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers             maintain good substance for about four weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence             apex).—About 32.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 18.9 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm by             2 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Center, close to 70A;             towards the apex, close to 71A; stripes, close to 71A.         -   Flower size.—Large, about 7.3 cm (vertical) by 9 cm             (horizontal).         -   Flower depth.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals             and one center petal transformed into a labellum.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Width: About 4.7 cm.             Shape: Reniform. Apex: Shallowly emarginate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous, velvety; matte. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to N80B; towards the base, close to between             84D and N155A; main vein, close to N80A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 77B to 77C; venation, close to N78A. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N78B and between N78B and             N80B; towards the base, close to 76C; main vein, close to             N78A; color does not change with subsequent development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N78B to N78C;             venation, close to N78A to N78B; color does not change with             subsequent development.         -   Labella.—Appearance: Three-parted with two lateral lobes and             a central lobe. Length, lateral lobes: About 2.1 cm. Width,             lateral lobes: About 1.7 cm. Length, central lobe: About             3.3 cm. Width, central lobe: About 5 mm to 23 mm. Size,             cirrose tips: About 1.4 cm in length and about 1.8 mm in             width. Shape, lateral lobes: Obovate to roughly orbicular.             Shape, central lobe: Deltoid. Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse.             Apex, central lobe: Cleft with cirrose tips that are             recurved. Margins, lateral lobes: Entire; slightly undulate.             Margins, central lobe: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte.             Callosities: Located at the base of the labellum and             attachment point of the lateral petals; about 4 mm in             length, about 6 mm in width and about 5 mm in height. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D;             basal margin, close to 70A; at the base, stripes, close to             71A. Central lobe: Close to 76C; towards the apex, close to             NN155D; towards the basal margins, close to 70B; central             band, tinged with close to 150D; at the base (at column             connection), close to NN155D with stripes, close to 71A;             cirrose tips, close to NN155D. Callosities: Close to 10C             with fine dots, close to 59A. When opening, lower surface:             Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D; basal margins, close to 70A.             Central lobe: Close to 76C; towards the basal margins and             lateral apices, close to N78A to N78B; at the base (at             column connection), close to between N155A and N155B;             cirrose tips, close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper surface:             Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D; basal margin, close to 70A             tinged with close to 9D; at the base, stripes, close to 71A.             Central lobe: Close to 76C; towards the apex, close to             NN155D; towards the basal margins, close to 70B; central             band, tinged with close to 150D; at the base (at column             connection), close to NN155D with stripes, close to 71A;             cirrose tips, close to NN155D. Callosities: Close to 10C             with fine dots, close to 59A. Fully opened, lower surface:             Lateral lobes: Close to NN155D; basal margins, close to 70A.             Central lobe: Close to 76B; towards the basal margins and             lateral apices, close to N78A to N78B; at the base (at             column connection), close to between N155A and N155B;             cirrose tips, close to NN155D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, one upper dorsal             sepal and two lower lateral sepals. Length, dorsal sepal:             About 4.3 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 3.1 cm. Length,             lateral sepals: About 4.3 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About             2.9 cm. Shape, dorsal sepal: Ovate to broadly elliptic.             Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Apex, dorsal sepal: Obtuse.             Apex, lateral sepals: Broadly and bluntly acute. Base,             dorsal and lateral sepals: Truncate. Margin, dorsal and             lateral sepals: Entire. Texture and luster, dorsal and             lateral sepals, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;             matte. Texture and luster, dorsal and lateral sepals, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous, slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Color, dorsal sepal: When opening, upper surface:             Close to N80B; towards the apex, close to N80C; at the base             (at column connection), close to 76C; margin edges, close to             76C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 72B; venation,             close to 71A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N78B;             towards the apex, close to N78C; at the base (at column             connection), close to 76C tinged with close to 8A; margin             edges, close to 76C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             N78B; central blotch, close to NN78A. Color, lateral sepals:             When opening, upper surface: Distally, close to N80B and             N80C and proximally, close to 76C; at the base, fine dots,             close to N80A. When opening, lower surface: Close to N78B;             towards the base, close to N78C; venation, close to 71A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Distally, close to N78B and             proximally, close to N78D; at the base, fine dots, close to             N80B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N78B; main vein,             close to NN78A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 57.4 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly arching.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Darker             than between 152A and N199A covered with fine dots, close to             146C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 70° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 197C; proximally, close to 200C and distally, close             to 84C and 84D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 9 mm.             Column width: About 6 mm. Column color: Close to NN155D;             towards the apex, close to 84B. Pollinia quantity: Two.             Pollinia diameter (per two pollinia): About 2.25 mm.             Pollinia color: Close to 24A. Gynoecium: Stigma length:             About 3.5 mm. Stigma width: About 4.5 mm. Stigma shape:             Reniform. Stigma color: Close to NN155D. Ovary length: About             8 mm. Ovary diameter: About 2 mm. Ovary color: Close to             145C. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development             have not been observed on plants of the new Doritaenopsis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Doritaenopsis     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Doritaenopsis plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Doritaenopsis have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 15° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Doritaenopsis plant named ‘Ladies Day’ as illustrated and described. 